Bathing-cap.



W. T. SEARS.

BATHING CAP.

APPLICATION FILED Aua.14, me.

1,246,948. Patented Nov. 20 1917.

Fig.1.

WILLARD '1. SEARS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BATHING-OAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented NOV. 20, 1917.

Application filed August 14, 1916. Serial No. 114,771.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLARD T. SEARS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bathing- Caps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to what I shall for convenience term a bathing-cap. I have selected the title given primarily for' the reason that the article is advantageously adapted for the use in question. One of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of a device of the kind set forth which has means of an effective character for positively preventing the entrance of water into the cap, while the wearer of it is bathing. Obviously the cap is susceptible of use by both sexes, although it is of such nature as to contain a mass of hair without possibility of the same being wet when the head is submerged.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification I have shown in detail one convenient form of embodiment of the invention which I will set forth fully in the following description. As will be evident, I do not restrict myself to this particular disclosure; I may depart therefrom in several respects within the scope of the invention defined by the claims following said description.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a bathing cap involving the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same showing a manner of use.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of part of a modified form of the band, and

Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the same.

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several views which are on different scales.

The cap comprises a body or cap pro er of suitable material such as thin rub er which is merely one illustration of several. This body is adapted to cover the head and it is provided with means of a suitable nature to conform to or closely fit the head, thus securing the first object of the invention which is to prevent passage of water into the cap while the latter is on the head. This means may be of any desirable nature, preferably, however, being within the cap. The bestefi'ects are obtained by using a pneumatic or inflatable tube which automatically molds or conforms itself to the shape of the head. While this tube may be of any convenient form it is generally in the form of a band. It is evident, of course, that it need not in all cases be continuous. With the foregoing general observations, I will now refer more in detail to what is fully illustrated, the showing as already noted being merely one of several advantageous forms.

The cap proper is denoted by 2 and it is generally made of sheet rubber, thus securing waterproofing and at the same time the requisite flexibility and resiliency. Rubber sheeting is of course, merely one of several materials from which the body of the cap may be formed. Preferably within the cap is a member as 3. This member as illustrated consists of an endless or annular tube. It may be cemented or otherwise .suitably attached to a support such as the band 4 usually of some textile fabric as canvas or duck. The supporting band 4 can be con- ,nected as by stitching 5 to the cap body 2. It will be observed that the band 3 is above the lower edge of the body 2 so that there depends from said band a bib or protecting portion 6 which surrounds the head in a comparatively freemanner. The band or tube 3 is best made from rubber and is inflatable. It' is provided with a valved nipple 7. By opening the valve of the nipple the tube 3 can be inflated when desired. The air pressure in the tube can of course, be readily regulated to secure a nice fitting of the band around or partly around the head. As will be clear, the canvas or other band or strip 4 constitutes merely one of several ways of uniting the band 3 or analogous part to the body 2 in a watertight manner; that is to say this band 4 prevents the passage of water between the band 3 and the cap' body 2.

The cap will be applied after, the fashion of the usual bathing caps; that is drawn over the hair, the latter being usually massed on the head, and the band 3 will be positioned under the hair line. When the cap is on, this band will mold or conform itself "accurately and closely to the. head, following exactly in fact the shape of the head, the result being that there will be no cracks or openings through which water can pass into the inside of the cap. In most bathing caps' and certainly with all thosewith which I am familiar, they fail altogether to fit the contour of the head. For instance in the neck there is a hollow, and the old bathing caps stretched across this hollow, the result being that water can pass alon the hollow and nto the cap. With the tu e 3 or like part,

this hollow will be filled.

Not only do I obtain the advantages set forth, but I can utilize the cap whether it be used for bathing or other purposes, as a life preserver, for with the necessary size inflatable tube or analogous buoyant element in the cap, the user can float indefinitely in all cases, as may be inferred from the statements already made, the head-engaging member of which 3 is an illustration, need be continuous. For instance across the forehead where there may be depressions, the tube could be omitted. In this event where the tube is inflatable that part of the cap which engages the head might be a flat rubber band. Preferably the head-engaging member is continuous, but as will be clear, it need not be inflatable, throughout its entire extent. There is another advantage in employing a corrugated tube, in that when of such character it acts further to resist the entrance of water into the cap, it being understood that corrugations which are disposed crosswise or transversely of the line of flow of water will act to check such flow.

I also wish to call attention to a further advantage of the strip or band of inelastic material of which that designated by 4 is an example. This element in addition to constituting a carrier for the head-embracing band or equivalent means also acts to maintain said means in close contact with the head causing the elastic band when used to keep against the form of the head; that is to say the flexible means is forced into the hollows of the head which is an important consideration.

There might be cases where I might make the head-embracing band or equivalent part as a complete article in itself; to be purchased by bathers as an article of manufacture. When this is done the bather or other user of the band will apply the latter to his head below the hair line or at some other desired place. This band would operate exactly as already set forth. When it is on the cap could be drawn over it.

What I claim is:

1. A bathing cap having an inflatable tube therein to automatically conform to the out line of the head, and also having an inelastic body interposed between the tube and the cap and connected with them both.

2. A bathing cap having an annular in flatable tube therein to automatically conform to the head of the wearer, and also having an annular inelastic member interposed between the tube and the cap and secured to them both.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLARD T. SEARS.

Witnesses:

DONALD M. CRossMAN, ARLO WILSON. 

